Valve-lifting device



March 11, 1930. E. s. DAVIS VALVE LIFTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 1926 ATTORNEY JNVENTOR 5: Day/s Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES ELI S. DAVIS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI VALVE-LIFTING DEVICE Application filed December 3, 1926. Serial No. 152,387.

My invention relates to those tools for use with internal combustion engines that are commonly designated valve lifters. My object is to provide a valve lifter having approximately a parallel lift, that holds the valve spring securely in lifted position, that has automatic locking features and is easily unlocked, that can be manipulated with one hand for preparation, insertion, lifting,

a looking and removing, that is compact and well integrated in structure for elimination of waste motions in arranging parts for functioning, and that can be applied conveniently to a variety of makes of engines. The

valve lifter that I now offer has new features of structure that enable it to accomplish the above objectives, and with improved elficiency.

The novel elements, and the manner in which my invention improves upon the present art, will be disclosed in the following description, with reference to the drawings, in

- which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my valve lifter in position preparatory to function-- ing, and related to valve parts shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a view'similar to'Fig. 1, my de handle'or'jaw member 1 and 2, and an oper ating lever 3. The handles have semi-tube like bodies, of form and for purposes of manufacture and use as will be detailed. The upper handle has body portion 4 having rounded uppersurface 5 for convenient hand gripping and tangentially downwardly extended vertical side walls 6-with parallel lower edges 7 the structure providing the longitudinal channel 8. The device is preferably constructed from a flat piece of metal,

0 a bearing jaw 9 being provided with lips 10 by the excision of a part of the material to produce spacing of the lips by the longitudinal slit 11, and the tube-like character of the body portion then being formed. The jaw portion is depressed as at 12 so that its plane is spaced from the plane of the lower edges 7 of the walls 6. The lower handle 2 is similarly constructed with body portion 13, rounded surface 14 which in this case is the lower and under surface of the handle, the walls 15 being upwardly extended and having upper edges 16, the jaw 17 with lips 18 and a slit 19 and with its plane displaced as at 20 for the projection above the plane of the edges 16. This structure provides that the edges 7 and 16 of the handles shall be opposed in assembly; and that the jaws 9 and 17 shall co-operate, their lips 10 and 18 aligning, assurance of alignment being desirable and being provided for in other details of structure to be described.

The handles are hinged at the extremities opposite the jaws, through ears 21 for the upper, being extended portions of the vertical walls 6 pressed together for reception between the extended ears 22 on the end of the'handle 2, the pin 23 engaging the handles pivotally. It is to be noted that the ears are extended from the handles to such a degree that upon effecting of their hinged engage- Q ment, the opposing adjacent edges of the handles are spaced; and the spacing is substantially equal to the sum of the spacings of the planes of the jaws from the handle edges as indicated at 12 and 20.

The structure is provided as offering special advantages in functioning, and also to accommodate the application of the lever 3, and to enable 'the lever to function most efficiently. The lever is also constructed semitubular, the diameter of its channel 24 adapting it for seating of its grip portion 25 snugly on the upper handle. A yoke 26 constitutes the pivot end of the lever, its branches being parallel plates extended from the walls of the tubular grip portion of the lever substantially right angularly to their axis.

The yoke straddles the upper handle, the ends of its branches being pivoted exteriorly on the lower handle by means of a cotter pin 27 inserted in such one or another of a plurality of'pairs of apertures 28', 29*, 80 provided in the walls of the handle as may be desired for adjustment under conditions I to be explained. Adjacent the juncture of yoke with grip portion of the lever, and in assembly positioned between the handles, a

spindle 31 is provided, bridging the yoke and rotatably borne in bearing apertures 32 of the branches.

The spacing of the two handles by the hinging ears and by the displaced planes.

of jaws provides for the housing between the handles of the spindle when the handles are brought together; and the presence of the spindle does not prevent the jaws from complete opposed surface contacting. The yoke, its branches pivoted exteriorly to the lower handle and embracing the upper handle, serves to guide the hinged handles in transverse alignment so that the lips of the two aws are assuredof alignment. These are factors of importance in the functioning of the device as will now be disclosed.

When the handles are brought together, the alignment and complete contacting of the jaws, and the coincidence of the lips and slits, facilitate. the insertion of the contacting awsbetween the tappet guide 33 and the valve spring seat 8% of the valve spring 35, valve stem 36 being received by the slit, and the slit'permitting the lips to pass the valve pin .87 to lift the spring upon actuation of the lever to give access to the pin for its removal so that the valve head 38 may be released from its detainment by the pin.

The lever of the valve lifter, in the process of bringing the handles together for insertion of the jaws among the valve parts, is so pivoted that the spindle rests between the handles adjacent the jaws, the grip portion being relatively erect. Depression of the grip portion towards the handles causes the spindle to revolve on the axis of the pivot and, bearing upwardly againstthe under edges of the upper handle, to space the handles and lift the jaw end of the upper handle to compress the spring; the jaw of the lower handle being seated on the tappet guide, and the lower handle retaining a horizontal position. The lifting leverage opera tion of the spindle continues until'the spindle in its revolution reaches a point approxi -mately verticalfrom the pivot, whence contion on the pivot of the lever.

handle.

and force it to continue in revolution around the lever pivot, from which rotation it is restrained by the retention of the grip portion of the power arm of the lever by the upper handle.

The device is therefore positively locked in functioning positionholding the spring compressed and, as it is said, the valve lifted.

Among incidental results of structure in use is the security of the locking, and freedom from hazard of accidental unlocking;

the, grip portion of the. lever fitting snugly on the handle, and a definite, purposeful action of-the operator being required to unseat the lever, rota-ting it to release the upper handle from locked raised position on the spindle bridge of the pivoted 'yoke'so that the spindle may be influenced into reverse revolution by the spring bearing on the jaw of the upper handle; the said reverse revolution being. freely permitted through the roller bearing feature of the spindle except as controlled by manual restraint of the grip portion.

Another phase of service through the structure just disclosed is available when the tool is to be inserted for operation. tool to be discovered at rest in a condition of the grip portion'of the leverseated on the; up

per handle, the ,jawstherefo're locked open.

The operator grasps the 'valve lifter with one hand, and through slight influence with .90 Suppose the thumb or finger of thathand dislodges the lever from its locked position.

jaws together exercised against theinfiuence ofthe lever which influence is substantially the weight of the grip portion of the lever, causes the rotation of the lever through the forcing of the roller-like spindle into revolubringing'the handles togetherfor contacting of the jaws for'insertion into the valve, is the A result of-los i i Slight com pression of the hinged handlesto bring their automatic establishment of 'thelever arm in f position for functioning. The lever arm is firmly established and retained in such posi-,, tion by the influence of the operatorin holcL ing the handles together for insertion of the j aws in the valve chamber.

It is to be noted that the hinging of the handles as described, provides relatively long jaw members, and of'equal length, whereby a relatively long radius for the rotationof the' upper handle is. provided, thusproducing substantially a parallel lift of the jaws.

Thestructure of the jaws as related to the lower edges of the body is also an obvious factor in this result. e

Adjustment of the deviceto the structural elements of a valve housing andthe associated engine elements,is provided for in :the plurality of apertures 28, 29'and 30 of theilower For engine structure having parts projecting uncommonly before the area of normal valve lifter access to the valve,the lever may bepiv'oted.inapertures-LQQ or 30, an

arrangement that prevents the grip portion of the lever from such close approach to such engine structure as would interfere with functioning or with convenience of operation. An additional pair of apertures 39 may be provided in the yoke, if desired, for adjustment of the weight arm to changed pivoting.

Attention is now called again to structure which enhances the degree of utility of the adjusting factors mentioned. The grip portion of the lever is permitted to approach the engine parts, but is restrained from contact with them, by reason of the restraint imposed 7' to the guiding function of the yoke for coincidence of jaw contours.

VVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A tool comprising hinged handles, a lever having forked extensions embracing one of the handles and having fixed pivotal mounting on the other handle, and means movable along an edge-of the first named handle for causingthe lever to space the handles, said means enabling the handles to retract the lever, the lever having a grip portion adapted to engage one of the handles for restraining the retractive movement of the lever. I

2. A tool comprising semi-tubular hinged members having cleft ends and a semi-tubular lever having fixed pivotal mounting in one of the members and provided with freely movable means for bearing frictionally against the other member adjacent its cleft end to space the members, the lever being seatable on the surface of one of the members for limiting the pivotal movement of the lever.

3. A valve lifter comprising paired members hinged at one end and having jaws at the opposite end, a lever having a yoke pivoted on one of the paired members and a handle engageable with the other paired member, and a spindle on said yoke engageable with said other member to spread said members.

4. A valve lifter comprising paired handle members, hinged at one end and having jaws at the other end, a lever having a yoke embracing both handle members and pivoted to one of the members, and having a handle engageable with the other handle member, a

spindle on said yoke engageable with said other handle member to spread said members, and engageable by said other handle member when the yoke has passed its limit of opening movement to urge said other handle memher to engagement with the first handle member and retain the jaws in open relation.

5. A valve lifter comprising paired handle members pivoted at one end and'having jaws at their opposite ends, a lever comprising a yoke embracing said handle members and having one end pivoted to one of said members, a spindle on said yoke movable in an arc intersecting a line perpendicular to said handle member at the yoke pivot and engageable with the other handle member to space said member, the lever comprising a handle fixed to the end of the yoke opposite said yoke pivot and engageable with one of the paired handle members when the spindle has passed said perpendicular line upon opening movement of said members, to retain said members open under closing pressure thereon.

6. In a tool of the character described including hinged jaw members, a lever comprising a handle having spaced integral branches embracing one of the jaw members, a pivot member mounted in the outer ends of the branches, and a second pivot member .mounted in the branches adjacent the inner ends thereof, one of said pivot members having fixed pivotal mounting in one of the jaw members and the other pivot member being engageable with the other jaw member to spread said jaw members.

7 In a tool of the character described including upper' and lower handle members hinged at one end and having jaws at their free ends, a lever comprising a handle portion and a split end portion forming a yoke, a pin mounted in the lower handle member, said yoke embracing both handle members and having it outer ends pivotally mounted on said pin, and a spindle mounted in said yoke in spaced relation with said handle portion to receive the upper handle member therebetween and for hearing frictionally against the upper handle member to space the handle members.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

ELI S. DAVIS. 

